Head of the Verkhovna Rada appealed to Ankara with a request that Turkish delegations not participate in the "International Forum" of the Russian Federation, held in the Crimea

KYIV (QHA) -

Ukraine appreciates the consistent policy of Turkey in supporting territorial integrity and independence, the Head of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy said during a meeting with the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey headed by Volkan Bozkır on April 19.

"We highly appreciate the consistent policy of Turkey in upholding the territorial integrity and independence of our state," Parubiy said.

The Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament noted that Turkey’s support at the international level is very important for Ukraine and expressed hope for such support in the future.

Chairman of the Committee for International Relations of the Turkish Parliament Volkan Bozkır assured the Ukrainian side of the unchanged support for territorial integrity and independence and noted that Turkey would never recognize the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea. He further noted that he was conveying this message on all possible international platforms.

“For us, Ukraine is not just a neighbor, but also a strategic partner. Our first priority is to ensure security and peaceful life," the representative of Turkey stressed.

Parubiy also requested Ankara not to participate in the “Yalta International Forum” of the Russian Federation held in the occupied Crimea, as it breaches international norms.

“This is a deliberate provocation to attract representatives of other countries, to make them visit the occupied Crimea. This is painfully perceived by the Crimean Tatars,” said the Ukrainian parliament speaker.

In turn, Bozkır assured that at the official level no delegation will participate in the forum, and added that he does not support the development of tourism with the occupied peninsula.

Earlier QHA reported that representatives of the Turkish delegation held a meeting with the leadership of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, where they discussed the situation in the occupied Crimea and options for cooperation in supporting the Crimean Tatar community.